Austin McElroy, 61, had left his place of work at JT’s Seafood Shack restaurant on State Road A1A Saturday night (Sept. 18) as he usually did: on his motorized bike. He didn’t own a car. He’d worked at the restaurant as a dishwasher and prep cook for about four years.

JT’s is located just north of 19th Rd. on State Road A1A, in the Hammock. McElroy’s home is a few blocks away, a small place on Shady Lane North.

Just before midnight, Cathy Benevenuto, 58, driving a 1998 Toyota PK, with Dana Benevenuto, 55, in the passenger seat, was traveling north on A1A. McElroy, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report, was riding north in the southbound lane, just north of 19th Rd. He crossed over from the southbound lane into the northbound lane, according to the report, and was struck by the left-front side of the Toyota.

McElroy was taken to Florida Hospital-Flagler, where he was pronounced dead at 16 minutes after midnight, the morning of Sept. 19.

His next-of-kin had not been notified when the highway patrol released the report because none had been found. A colleague at the restaurant, where McElroy worked full time, described him as “great” and “awesome.” A search for his relatives is ongoing.

i was told that he had asked several people for a ride home because he was drinking after he had got off of work and they all refused to give him a ride, that is something i would not want to live with

wsh302: please do not comment on things that u truly dont know, i worked the man everyday, we all offered a way for him to get home that night!!! but when his mind was made up, that was it! we are all completely heartbroken over this tragedy! so please in the future keep your mouth closed on matters that you are ignorant to!! we loved that man as a family member, and would have never let him leave if we had control over it!
so leave your unfounded comments somewhere else!!

I hung out with him the whole night before this tragic event happened. Everyone dancing together. Making jokes. He was with us and his other friends having a blast and then this happened. He is truly missed by everyone that knew him. WE MISS YOU “SKIP”!!

jan: yet another person without any concern for peoples feelings, how can you throw stones. we all have had a rough week, we had a beautiful service for that man, and he was sooo loved. how can you say we had no common decency, you are the one who should be ashamed of yourself!!! that sign wasnt intended to offend anyone, it was to let anyone that wanted to come pay respects was welcome to join us!!!!! did you?!?!?! please stop lashing out at the employees of jt’s because this loss has affected all of us so much, there is no replacing that man in our hearts and family that jt’s is!!!

I am Skip’s daughter and just found out that he was killed. I haven’t seen him since I was 15 (25 years ago). I’m very sad about this and that nobody was able to contact me. Is there anybody who knows how to get in touch with his mother, Helen? Please let me know.